1. Lay the sheepskin flat before measuring
Place the dry sheepskin on a level floor or table and let it settle into its natural shape. Gently smooth any folds, without stretching the leather or pulling the wool tips. A soft tape measure is useful for reading the distance between the edges.
Measure the pelt itself, rather than judging its size from a room photograph. A rug draped over a chair, partly tucked under furniture or photographed at an angle can appear shorter or wider.
2. Measure the length diagonally
1. Length: diagonally
2. Width: the widest point
Take the length diagonally between an end of the natural pelt and the furthest opposite end. Lay the tape in a straight diagonal line over the flat sheepskin; do not follow the curves of the edge. This is how to read the length of the naturally shaped pelts described in this guide.
Keep the wool relaxed. Stretching the hide or pulling individual strands to reach a larger number does not give a useful measurement for choosing a sheepskin rug or throw.
3. Measure the width at the widest point
Find the broadest part of the sheepskin and measure across it from side to side. Use the widest point, rather than the narrower middle or neck area.
The stated width is not the width along the whole length. A natural pelt can narrow considerably, which matters when you want it to cover a chair seat, bench or a particular patch of floor.
4. Read length × width in centimetres and inches
| Example: length × width | Approximately in inches | How to read the size |
|---|---|---|
| 90 × 60 cm | 35.4 × 23.6 in | 90 cm diagonal length; 60 cm at the widest point. |
| 100 × 60 cm | 39.4 × 23.6 in | 100 cm diagonal length; 60 cm at the widest point. |
| 120 × 60 cm | 47.2 × 23.6 in | 120 cm diagonal length; 60 cm at the widest point. |
When a pelt size is written as length × width, the first number describes its diagonal length and the second its maximum width. The examples below illustrate that order; they do not mean that every colour is available in each size.
These are approximate measurements of an irregular natural product, not the sides or guaranteed coverage of a rectangle. Check the order of the dimensions and the available size on the individual product page.
5. Distinguish natural pelts from rugs and chair-pad backings
The diagonal method above applies to naturally shaped pelts. Round, square and rectangular sheepskin rugs and chair pads in our collection use backing measurements instead.
- Round rugs and chair pads: measure the backing diameter through the centre.
- Square and rectangular rugs or chair pads: measure the sides of the backing, not its diagonal.
- Long wool extends beyond these backings. Its outer outline varies, so do not add a fixed number of centimetres to estimate the overall size.
6. Compare the measurements with your floor or furniture
Measure the space beside your bed, on your bench or over the armchair where you plan to use the sheepskin. Allow for the part that will drape over an edge and for the narrower sections of the pelt.
Every hide has a different outline, wool direction and fullness. If the fit is important, use the product enquiry form to ask about the measurements of the particular piece before ordering.
Questions and answers
Is a natural sheepskin measured diagonally?
For the naturally shaped Supk Kurk pelts covered here, yes: length is measured diagonally between opposite ends. The width is measured separately at the widest point.
Do I measure the width at the narrow middle?
No. Use the widest part of the natural pelt. This maximum width does not mean that the sheepskin is equally wide along its whole length.
Can the wool edge change the apparent size?
Yes. Natural wool direction, fullness and the individual outline affect how large a sheepskin looks. Measure it flat without pulling the wool, and treat the listed size as approximate.
Should I measure a round rug or chair pad diagonally too?
No. Their listed sizes refer to the backing: diameter for a round base, side lengths for a square or rectangle. Wool extends beyond the backing.
